Keep faith in UK science excellence, says Greg Clark MP

The past two months I have been the Biology Week Intern at the Society of Biology. This amazing experience gave me the opportunity to interview Greg Clark, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities at the Biology Week Parliamentary reception in the House of Commons.

I wrote this news article for the Society of Biology, you can also read the article on their website.

“Excellence in the biosciences requires we keep faith with the reputation this country has for science excellence” said Greg Clark MP, yesterday evening at the Biology Week Parliamentary Reception.

The recently appointed Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, urged the audience, including policy makers, academics and members of the Society of Biology, to “keep faith with the institutions responsible for success and respect the foundations laid down by predecessors”.

Clark, speaking to the wider science community for the first time since his appointment, said that the Society of Biology is “in the vanguard of making progress”.

He said, “I am incredibly privileged that I have such a prestigious and expert group of people to advise me and I will follow that advice, I very much look forward to working together through the years ahead.”

The annual Biology Week reception was hosted by Andrew Miller MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP and Dr Julian Huppert MP at the House of Commons, in partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Andrew Miller MP implored scientists to engage with their MP and “make policy makers understand challenges in laboratories and the exciting potential of the science you’re engaged with”.

Melanie Welham, director of science at BBSRC, said “it is really important the BBSRC partners with Society of Biology and other organisations to make sure the potential in biosciences is actually realised”.